Folding chicken-coop.



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FOLDING CHICKEN cooP.

(Appueatinn fusa muy 27, 1901.;

(No Model.)

2 She'ets--Sh-eet Il.

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l Patented Apr. 8, |902. F. M.STEUTEBMAN. FOLDING CHICKEN C00?.

(Application filed July 427, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

. Hummm IHIIHHH H HHIHIIIIIHHIIHIHHIHly A UNTTEE STATES FRANK M. STEUTERMAN,

PATENT OFFICE.

OE sT. LOUIs, MISSOURI.

FOLDING ol-iloKEln-.oooe-V SKECIFJEGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,037, dated April 8, 1902..

Application filed July/'27, 1901.

To @El whom, it Nifty concern: Y

Be it known that i, FRANK M. STEUTERMAN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Folding Chicken-Coop, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to boxes and crates, and more particularly to folding or knocked-down boxes or crates.

The object of this invention is to provide a folding or knocked-down box or crate which shall be exceedingly strong and dn rable when open, and one which can be folded into a very small and compact position when it is folded for return shipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box or crate in which the sides and ends will be held in a vertical position and prevented from folding outwardly, but at the same time permitted to fold inwardly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinged connection between the cover and sides, whereby the cover can be open and held in a vertical position and at the same time prevented from folding outwardly; and a still further object is to provide an' improved construction for closing the gateway ofthe cover and at the same time locking the sections of the cover together.

With these various objects in View the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the various parts and in their novel combination or arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective View of a box or crate constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being set up ready to receive poultry or any other article ot' merchandise. Fig. 2 is a view showing the box or crate folded or knocked down ready for return shipment. Fig. 3 is a perspective View illustrating the box set up, the cover` being shown open. Fig. 4 is a View illustrating the manner of folding, showing the end sections folded prior to folding the side and cover sections. Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing the end sections folded and also one side and cover section folded, the other side and cover section remaining in an Open position. Fig. G is a vertical sectional view taken through Serial No. 69,960. (No model.)

the box or crate when arranged in a set-up position, the cover-sections being closed or locked. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View showing the sections of the hinge. Fig. S is a perspective view showing the outer face of the hinge.

In carrying out my invention l? employ a bottom or base board A, to which the sides B and ends C are hinged, and to the upper ends of Yeach side is hinged a cover-section D. The bottom is solid, while the sides, ends, and cover are preferably composed of a series of slats, as most clearly shown. The slats of the sides are securely united to metallic straps B', while the end slats are connected to similar straps C', said straps B and C' terminating in a hinged section E, which is pivotally connected to the opposing hinged section E', formed integral with the leaf E2, which is secured to the sides and ends of the bottom. The section E is pivoted between parallel lugs E', and it will be notedthat the pivot is at a point to one side of the plane within which the plate E2 and strap B or C rests. This construction of hinge permits the sides and ends to fold freely inwardly and also maintains them in an upright or vertical position when the 'said sides and ends are swung outwardly to an open position, as most clearly shown in Figs. l, 3, and C. The slats of the cover are connected to straps D', which are hinged to the upper ends of the straps B', as shown at D2, said hinge being of such construction that the cover-sections can fold inwardly, but cannot fold outwardly to a position beyond an upright or vertical one, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Side, end, and cover sections are each provided with corner-strips G, which also aid in holding the said side, end, and cover sections in their proper open positions and do not interfere with the foldinglof the said sides, ends, and cover-sections. Each end is provided with two inwardly-projecting eyes H, adjacent to their upper edges, said eyes being adapted to receive the pins K, carried at the corners of the cover -sections, thereby holding the said end and cover sections in their proper relative positions when the box or crate is set up. One section of the cover has a gate-opening L, at one side of which is arranged one or more depending staples, said staples being adapted for engagement with the bolts N, carried by the strap O, said strap being pivotally connected to an arm P, which is pivoted at its lower end, as shown at P, to the bottom of the box or crate. In order to set up the box or crate the sides and ends are turned up to a vertical position, their hinges preventing the said sides and ends folding outwardly. The cover sections are then turned down, the pins K engaging the eyes H, and, if desired, the arm P can be swung up, bringing the strap O into the gate-opening L,'a'nd the bolts N, brought into engagement with the staples M and similar staples M',arranged upon the opposing sections, serve to lock the cover-sections firmly together.

The arm P also acts as a central support, thereby preventing the cover being forced in in case any heavy article should be placed upon the box or crate when set up. When it is desired to knock the box down or fold it for reshipment, the cover-sections are first opened to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4, and the ends are then folded inwardly. One side and cover section is then turned down, and the other side and cover section is then turned, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the device when thus folded will occupy very little space and can therefore be easily' transported.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exeeedingly strong durable construction of knocked down box or crate capable of carrying out all of the objects liereinbcfore mentioned.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the bottom, of the side and end sections hinged to said bottom, the cover-sections hinged to the side sections, said cover-sections having depending staples arranged opposite each other, an arm pivoted to the bottom and carrying a strip at its outer end, said strip carrying bolts adapted to engage said staples for the purpose of locking the cover-sections together, substantially as shown and described. c

2. The combination with the cover-sections, having staples arranged at their opposing edges, said staples being adapted to register when the cover-sections are closed, an arm adapted to be pivoted to the bottom, the strip pivotally connected to the upper end of said arm, and the bolts carried by the said strip and adapted for engagement with the staples, substantially as .herein shown and described.

FRANK M. STEUTERMAN. 

